Ice-making unit for flow-down type ice maker

ABSTRACT

An ice-making unit is so configured as to facilitate cleaning of the backsides of ice-making plates. An evaporator of the ice-making unit is disposed between the backsides of a pair of ice-making plates and has straight portions extending laterally and curved portions sticking out sideward of the ice-making plates, the straight portions and the curved portions being repetitively zigzagged. The curved portion is bent frontward or rearward of the ice-making plates more than a clearance between the ice-making plates. Accordingly, the curved portion is retracted from a side opening defined between the ice-making plates and facing inside the ice-making unit, and does not interfere with cleaning of the backsides of the ice-making plates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an ice-making unit for a flow-down type ice maker having a pair of ice-making plates disposed facing each other with an evaporator constituting a refrigeration system in between.

2. Description of the Related Art

There is a flow-down type ice maker as an ice maker which continuously produces ice cubes (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. S62-176669). The flow-down type ice maker has a pair of ice-making plates vertically disposed facing each other with an evaporator constituting a refrigeration system in between, and produces ice cubes by supplying ice-making water to the top sides (ice-making surfaces) of the ice-making plates cooled down by a refrigerant supplied to the evaporator, thereby producing ice cubes. The obtained ice cubes are separated and dropped down from the ice-making surfaces by deicing water.

As shown in FIG. 6A, an ice-making unit 10 includes an evaporator 14 and a pair of ice-making plates 12, 12 sandwiching the evaporator 14. The ice-making unit 10 has the pair of ice-making plates 12, 12 directly connected to the evaporator 14 by a brazing filler metal, such as tin, so that the ice-making unit 10 is assembled with space S provided by the pipe diameter of the evaporator 14. Alternatively, the ice-making unit 10 is assembled with space S provided by the pipe diameter of the evaporator 14 by welding the pair of ice-making plates 12, 12 facing each other with the evaporator 14 in between via a separate member. The evaporator 14 is zigzagged between the backsides of the ice-making plates 12, 12.

The evaporator 14 has straight portions extending laterally (horizontally) and curved portions 14 a or folded portions sticking out sideward of the side portions of both ice-making plates 12, 12. A plurality of fixing portions 16 are provided at side portions of the ice-making plates 12, 12 which are coupled together by the fixing portions 16. The fixing portion 16 also serves as the mount base of a support member 20 for mounting the ice-making unit 10 onto the body of the ice maker. Side openings between the ice-making plates 12, 12 communicate with the space S, and are covered by the fixing portions 16 excluding the insertion space of the evaporator 14.

The support member 20 has a flange portion 22 bent so as to be able to abut on the body of the ice maker, and a cutaway portion 20 a formed in such a way as to evade the curved portion 14 a and an inlet/outlet portion 14 b of the evaporator 14 which stick out from between the ice-making plates 12, 12 (see FIG. 6A). The cutaway portion 20 a the support member 20 after being assembled therefore receives the curved portion 14 a and inlet/outlet portion 14 b of the evaporator 14 sticking out from between the ice-making plates 12, 12. The support member 20 is fixed by aligning through holes 20 b bored at adequate positions with screw holes 16 a formed in the fixing portion 16 and fastening screws 24 into both holes 20 b, 16 a (see FIG. 6B).

In a deicing operation, deicing water is supplied between the pair of ice-making plates 12, 12 in the ice-making unit 10 by deicing water supply means (not shown) disposed above the ice-making unit 10 to accelerate melting of the frozen surfaces between ice cubes and the ice-making plate 12. Accordingly, the pair of ice-making plates 12, 12 are grimed over time with impurities such as mineralogical fur and calcium contained in the deicing water, it is desirable to regularly clean the ice-making plates 12, 12. Because the pair of ice-making plates 12, 12 are basically difficult to disassemble, however, cleaning by inserting a cleaning tool or the like in the space S to remove the grime adhered to the backside of each ice-making plate 12 is conducted.

Even if the cleaning tool is inserted in the space S from above or below to clean the opposing sides of the ice-making plates 12, 12, the insertion of the cleaning tool is interfered with by the straight portions of the evaporator 14, so that only the upper portion or the lower portion of the ice-making plate 12 is partially cleaned. It is necessary to insert the cleaning tool from the sides of both ice-making plates 12, 12 to clean the center portion of each ice-making plate 12. In this case, however, the curved portions 14 a sticking out sideward of the ice-making plates 12, 12 interfere with an appropriate cleaning work. In addition, the side opening which communicates with the space S is mostly covered by the fixing portion 16 and the support member 20. This limits the portion where the cleaning tool is to be inserted, and decreases the degree of freedom of the cleaning work even if the cleaning tool is inserted, thus preventing the entire ice-making plate 12 from being cleaned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the inherent problem of the ice-making unit for the conventional flow-down type ice maker and provide an ice-making unit for a flow-down type ice maker which allows the insertion of a cleaning tool from the sides of both ice-making plates and appropriate cleaning work of the backside of each ice-making plate.

To achieve the object, an ice-making unit for a flow-down type ice maker according to the present invention includes:

a pair of ice-making plates;

an evaporator disposed between backsides of the ice-making plates and having straight portions extending laterally and curved portions sticking out sideward of the ice-making plates, the straight portions and the curved portions being repetitively zigzagged, wherein ice-making water is supplied down onto a top side of each ice-making plate cooled down by a refrigerant supplied to the evaporator in circulation, thereby producing ice cubes, in an ice-making operation, and deicing water is supplied down onto a backside of each ice-making plate, thereby separating ice cubes, in a deicing operation,

the curved portion being bent frontward or rearward of the ice-making plates more than a clearance between the ice-making plates so that the curved portion is retracted from a side opening defined between the ice-making plates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an ice-making unit for a flow-down type ice maker according to a preferable embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a support member attached to the ice-making unit for a flow-down type ice maker according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a partly cutaway, schematic perspective view showing the ice-making unit for a flow-down type ice maker according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the support member attached to the ice-making unit for a flow-down type ice maker according to the embodiment;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic perspective views of an ice-making unit for a flow-down type ice maker according to a modification, FIG. 5A showing the ice-making unit before attachment of a support member while FIG. 5B shows the support member attached to the ice-making unit; and

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic perspective views of the ice-making unit for the conventional flow-down type ice maker, FIG. 6A showing the ice-making unit before attachment of the support member thereto while FIG. 6B shows the support member attached to the ice-making unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An ice-making unit for a flow-down type ice maker according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below referring to the accompanying drawings. For the sake of descriptive convenience, like or same reference numerals are given to those components of the ice-making unit which are the same as the corresponding components of the ice-making unit for the flow-down type ice maker shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B to avoid the detailed description. The “frontward” of the ice-making unit (both ice-making plates) indicates the side that faces an arrow A in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3.

Embodiment

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, an ice-making unit 30 for a flow-down type ice maker according to the embodiment includes a pair of ice-making plates 32, 32 arranged substantially vertically, and an evaporator 34 held between the opposing sides (between the backsides) of both ice-making plates 32, 32. The evaporator 34 has straight portions 34 a repetitively zigzagged in such a way as to extend laterally (horizontally). The ice-making unit 30 forcibly cools down both ice-making plates 32, 32 by circulating a refrigerant in the evaporator 34 which constitutes the a refrigeration system in an ice-making operation. The ice-making unit 30 is supported on the body of the ice maker via support members 40, 40 disposed on the respective sides of the ice-making unit 30.

The ice-making unit 30 is constructed by welding both ice-making plates 32, 32 to the evaporator 34. Both ice-making plates 32, 32 are separated from each other by the pipe diameter of the evaporator 14, thus defining a space S between the opposing sides of the ice-making plates 32, 32. Ice-making water supply means and deicing water supply means (both not shown) are disposed above the ice-making unit 30. In the ice-making operation, ice-making water is supplied to the top side (ice-making surface) of each ice-making plate 32 in the ice-making unit 30 by ice-making water supply means. In a deicing operation, deicing water is supplied between the opposing sides of the ice-making plates 32, 32 in the ice-making unit 30 by deicing water supply means. In the deicing operation, a hot gas (high-temperature refrigerant) is supplied to the evaporator 34 by operating a changeover valve in the refrigeration system. While the ice-making plates 32, 32 are formed by a metal plate having a relatively low heat conductivity, such as a stainless plate, the ice-making plates 32, 32 may be formed of other materials as well. While the evaporator 34 is formed by a pipe having a relatively high heat conductivity, such as a copper pipe, the evaporator 34 may be formed of other materials as well.

A plurality of projections 32 a protruding outward and extending in the up and down direction are formed on each ice-making plate 32 by bending a thin plate in a wavy form. The projections 32 a are arranged in parallel in the extending direction of the straight portions 34 a of the evaporator 34. An ice-making area of the ice-making plate 32 is an internal portion surrounded by a pair of projections 32 a, 32 a. Ice-making water is supplied to the ice-making areas of the ice-making plate 32 by the ice-making water supply means.

Fixing portions 36, 36 are provided at the upper end and lower end of side portions of the opposing ice-making plates 32, 32, and the opposing side portions of the ice-making plates 32, 32 are coupled together via the fixing portions 36, 36. Each fixing portion 36 serves as the mount base of the support member 40, and has a screw hole 36 a bored in approximately the center portion of the fixing portion 36 (see FIG. 1). That is, a relatively large side opening 38 is defined by the opposing ice-making plates 32, 32 and the upper and lower fixing portions 36, 36, and communicates with the space (interior of the ice-making unit 30) S. The side opening 38 which communicates with the space S is made smaller by setting the fixing portions 36 in the ice-making unit 30 larger or increasing the number of the fixing portions 36. Therefore, the size or the number of fixing portions 36 provided is set in consideration of the workability of the cleaning work to be performed through the side opening 38.

The straight portions 34 a of the evaporator 34 extend in the lateral direction of the pair of ice-making plates 32, 32. Curved portions 34 b which are U-shaped folded portions of the evaporator 34 are arranged sticking sideward from between the pair of ice-making plates 32, 32 (side opening 38) (see FIG. 3). The evaporator 34 is connected to a refrigerant pipe (not shown) which communicates with the refrigeration system. The evaporator 34 has an inlet portion 34 c sticking sideward from the side opening 38 and an outlet portion 34 d sticking sideward from the side opening 38. The inlet portion 34 c receives a vaporized refrigerant from the refrigeration system. The outlet portion 34 d provides the refrigeration system with the vaporized refrigerant which has flown through the evaporator 34. Apparently, the curved portions 34 b of the evaporator 34 stick sideward from both side surfaces of the ice-making unit 30 and the inlet portion 34 c and the outlet portion 34 d stick out from symmetrical side surfaces of the ice-making unit 30.

The curved portion 34 b of the evaporator 34 is bent frontward or rearward (rearward in the embodiment) which is the opposing direction of the ice-making plates 32, 32 from the root portion sticking out from the side opening 38 (see FIG. 1). That is, the curved portion 34 b is bent in the direction of retracting from the side opening 38. The tip portion (top portion of the bent portion) of the curved portion 34 b is so set as to be deformed more than a clearance D between the pair of ice-making plates 32, 32 from the root portion which is the bending start point (see FIG. 1). Accordingly, the side opening 38 of the ice-making unit 30 is exposed without being interfered with the curved portion 34 b as one faces the side surfaces of the ice-making unit 30 from the side. The inlet portion 34 c and the outlet portion 34 d of the evaporator 34 are also bent in the same direction as the bending direction of the curved portion 34 b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the support member 40 has a flange portion 44 provided by bending one side of a body portion 42 having an approximately rectangular shape at right angles, and a window portion 46 formed in the body portion 42. The size of the window portion 46 is set to permit insertion of the curved portion 34 b and the inlet portion 34 c or the outlet portion 34 d. At the time the support member 40 is attached to the side surface of the ice-making unit 30, the side opening 38 can seen from the side through the window portion 46 (see FIG. 2). Side plate portions 48, 48 extending in the same direction as the bending direction of the flange portion 44 are formed at the respective side edges of the window portion 46. At the time the support member 40 is attached to the side surface of the ice-making unit 30, the side plate portions 48, 48 are arranged along the side edges of the side opening 38. Those side plate portions 48, 48 prevent the deicing water from scattering via the window portion 46 in the deicing operation. The support member 40 has through holes 42 a, 42 a at the upper and lower portions of the window portion 46. The through holes 42 a, 42 a are respectively aligned with the screw holes 36 a of the fixing portion 36. The support member 40 is fixed to the side of the ice-making unit 30 by fastening screws 24, inserted into the through holes 42 a, 42 a from outside, into the screw holes 36 a (see FIG. 4).

Operation of Embodiment

The operation of the ice-making unit for the flow-down type ice maker according to the embodiment will be described below. The ice-making unit 30 is fixed to the ice maker body by supporting the sides of the ice-making unit 30 with the pair of support members 40, 40. At this time, the side opening 38 is aligned with the window portion 46 of the support member 40 in the ice-making unit 30. That is, with the support member 40 attached to the side of the ice-making unit 30, one can face the space S from the side through the window portion 46 and the side opening 38. This can allow a cleaning tool 50 such as a brush to be inserted into the space S from the side without detaching the ice-making unit 30 from the support member 40 at the time of cleaning the ice-making unit 30. The side opening 38 is set relatively wide by providing the fixing portions 36 to be the mount bases of the support member 40 at the upper ends and lower ends of the side portions of the ice-making plates 32, 32. Therefore, the degree of freedom of movement of the cleaning tool 50 inserted into the space S in the ice-making unit 30 is high so that the entire opposing sides of the ice-making plates 32, 32 can be cleaned (see FIG. 4).

The curved portion 34 b sticking out from each side surface of the ice-making unit 30 is bent in one of the opposing directions of the ice-making plates 32, 32 and is retracted from the side opening 38. Accordingly, when the cleaning tool 50 is inserted through the side opening 38, the insertion of the cleaning tool 50 is not interfered with the curved portion 34 b. In cleaning the opposing sides of the ice-making plates 32, 32, the curved portion 34 b of the evaporator 34 does not interfere with the movement of the cleaning tool 50, thus permitting the entire opposing sides of the ice-making plates 32, 32 to be adequately cleaned. What is more, the cleaning tool 50, when inserted through one of the side openings 38 of the ice-making unit 30, covers approximately the entire lateral length of the ice-making plates 32, 32. Therefore, the ice-making unit 30 has only to be cleaned from one side surface, thus leading to an improved workability. Further, as the inlet portion 34 c and the outlet portion 34 d of the evaporator 34 are likewise bent frontward or rearward of both ice-making plates 32, 32, the cleaning performance can be improved. As the performance of cleaning the interior of the ice-making unit 30 is improved this way, it is possible to suitably maintain the sanitary state of the ice-making unit 30.

The ice-making unit 30 of the embodiment differs from the conventional ice-making unit only in that the curved portion 34 b of the evaporator 34 is bent and the structure of the fixing portion 36 is changed. It is therefore unnecessary to change the conventional assembling steps at the time of assembling the ice-making unit 30, so that the adequate cleaning performance can be obtained without increasing the assembling cost.

(Modification)

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic perspective views showing a part of an ice-making unit 31 according to a modification. Because the fundamental portion of the ice-making unit 31 of the modification is same as that of the embodiment, same reference numerals are given to the corresponding or same components as those of the embodiment, and only the different portions will be described. The ice-making unit 31 of the modification has flange portions 32 b extending sideward from both side edge portions of each ice-making plate 32 (only one shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B). Each flange portion 32 b is so formed as to be insertable into the window portion 46 of the support member 40. The flange portion 32 b is so configured as to overlap each respective side plate portion 48 extending along each side edge portion of the window portion 46 when the support member 40 is attached to the ice-making unit 31. A plurality of screw holes 32 c are bored in each flange portion 32 b in the up and down direction at predetermined intervals. A plurality of through holes 48 a respectively corresponding to the screw holes 32 c are bored in the side plate portion 48. At the time the support member 40 is attached to the ice-making unit 31, the through holes 48 a of the side plate portion 48 are aligned with the corresponding screw holes 32 c of the flange portion 32 b. The ice-making unit 31 is fixed to the support member 40 by fastening screws 24, inserted into the through holes 48 a from the opposing direction of the ice-making plates 32, 32, into the screw holes 32 c (see FIG. 5B). In the modification, as in the embodiment, the ice-making unit 31 is coupled to the support member 40 by fastening the screws 24 into the respective screw holes 36 a, 36 a of the upper and lower fixing portions 36, 36, which couple both ice-making plates 32, 32 together, via the through holes 42 a, 42 a of the support member 40. The coupling of each flange portion 32 b to each side plate portion 48 of the support member 40 in the modification can improve the strength of coupling the ice-making unit 31 and the support member 40 together as compared with a case where the ice-making unit 30 and the support member 40 are fixed merely by the fixing portions 36 as per the embodiment.

Although the curved portions 34 b sticking out from both side surfaces of the ice-making unit 30 or 31 are so bent as to be retracted from the side opening 38 in the embodiment or the modification, only one curved portion 34 b sticking out from one side surface of the ice-making unit 30 or 31 may be bent.

According to the ice-making unit of the flow-down type ice maker of the present invention, as the curved portion of the evaporator is bent frontward or rearward of both ice-making plates more than the clearance between both ice-making plates, the curved portion is retracted from the side opening which is defined between both ice-making plates and is open sideward. This permits insertion of the cleaning tool to be inserted between both ice-making plates from the side of the ice-making unit. Further, the curved portion of the evaporator does not interfere with the movement of the cleaning tool in the cleaning work, thus improving the cleaning performance. As a pair of ice-making plates are coupled together by connecting the upper and lower ends of the side portions of the ice-making plates by the fixing portions, the side opening open to the side surface of the ice-making unit becomes relatively larger, thus further improving the cleaning performance. 

1. An ice-making unit for a flow-down type ice maker, comprising: a pair of ice-making plates; an evaporator disposed between backsides of the ice-making plates and having straight portions extending laterally and curved portions sticking out sideward of the ice-making plates, the straight portions and the curved portions being repetitively zigzagged, wherein ice-making water is supplied down onto a top side of each ice-making plate cooled down by a refrigerant supplied to the evaporator in circulation, thereby producing ice cubes, in an ice-making operation, and deicing water is supplied down onto a backside of each ice-making plate, thereby separating ice cubes, in a deicing operation, the curved portion being bent frontward or rearward of the ice-making plates more than a clearance between the ice-making plates so that the curved portion is retracted from a side opening defined between the ice-making plates.
 2. The ice-making unit according to claim 1, wherein the pair of ice-making plates have upper side ends and lower side ends of the side portions thereof coupled together at via fixing portions.
 3. The ice-making unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the evaporator has an inlet portion and an outlet portion bent frontward or rearward of the ice-making plates.
 4. The ice-making unit according to claim 1, wherein the pair of ice-making plates have side surfaces supported by a support member in which a window portion aligned with the side opening is provided.
 5. The ice-making unit according to claim 4, wherein a flange portion extending sideward is formed at a side edge portion of each of the ice-making plates, so that with the support member attached to the side surfaces of the pair of ice-making plates, the flange portion penetrating through the window portion of the support member overlaps a side plate portion extending along side edge portions of the window portion in association with each other. 